Apparatus for extracting gold



(NoModel.)

A. L. BLTONHEAD.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRA'GTING GOLD.

No. 549,907. Patented Nov. 19, v1895.

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2% JA/@9i cya/Bj@ 11,1 Um/M924 UNITED STATESv i PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED L. ELTONHEAD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FTOR EXTRACTING GOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,907, dated November 19, 1895. Application led January 15, 1894. Serial No. 496,836. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALFRED L. ELTONHEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Gold, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section through the middle of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, as on line a b, Fig. l.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for extracting gold and some other metals from ores, tailings, &c., by what is known as the cyanide process, especially such asdepend upon the use of sodium amalgam, wherein the sodium in the amalgam in contact with a solution of gold cyanide is replaced by gold and Vitself enters the solution as sodium cyanide.

The object of the invention is to facilitate and increase the formation and deposit of the gold amalgam and shorten the time of the operation.

The precise character of the improvements will appear from the following description, and as pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- A is a shallow rectangular box, of wood or other material suitable for the purpose in view, and say, for example, of the followingv dimensions: ten feet long, four feet wide, and one foot deep. Running midway longitudinally in the bottom of this box is a trough B, which is, say, one-half or three-fourths of an inch deep and six inches wide. Two other longitudinal troughs or grooves b' b', say, three inches wide, also extend in thebottom parallel with and about midway between the respective sides of trough "B and the wall of the box. Two series ofV inclined grooves `C,

say, three inches in width and at intervals ofabout one foot apart, are' made in the bottom of the box and extend fromthe sides, respectively, of `^the box to' the bottom or nearlyto the bottom of trough B ,intersecting troughs b.

D is is a rectangular vessel open at the top and bottom and placed immediately over the trough B, the inside width of the vessel being preferably somewhat less than the Width of said trough, as seen most clearly in Fig. 3. One end ofthis vessel abuts against or close to the end of the box A, and the other end extends near a transverse partition E, so as to leave a passage-Way H4 for the cyanide solution, as hereinafter described. This 'vessel D and adjuncts are free to reciprocate transversely, as and for the purpose to be described;

E' E2 are two longitudinal partitions extending from end to end of the box and parallel with the sides of thevesscl D, and which, for convenience of securing in place and readyY removal when desired, are retained by grooves gin the ends of `the. box. The lower edges of these partitions are respectively .about on a level with the tops of troughs b', as seen in Fig. 3. The transverse partition E, extending across one end of vessel D, is also heldin place by grooves g in the sides of the partitions E E2. A notch or opening (indicated by the arrow e3, Fig. l) is made in the lower edge of one end of partition E', anda similar opening (indicated by the arrow e4) in one end of the partition E2. r .v A

It will be seen that by the vessel D and the several partitions and walls of the box spaces or channels H, H H2, H3, H4, and H5 are formed, and that there is free communication between said channels.

In the inclined grooves C are laid strips or plates I, of copper or iron, 'preferably copper. J is a strip of lead, whose width is somewhat less than that of the inside of vessel D.' It is supported bya U-shaped bracket G, which is suspended within the vessel D, and upon the horizontal limb g of which the limbs j of the lead'strips are sustained. The limbs of the bracket extend over and above the ends of the box. r It the bracket, is made vertically adjustable at each end by means of set-screw t7'2 or other suitable means.

The lower part of the lead strip is supported near the bottom of vessel D by means of thin Vbars j, extendingV at intervals across thev lower sides or .edges of. the bracket. Thus the said strip is prevented'from bending down by itsown weight. The outer ends of the bracket are connected to journal-pins n, upon which, respectively, is a loose pinion n', whoseteeth engage a fixed rack', secured to the end of box A. To the pins 'n is con- IOO nected a yoke n3. Said strip is connected by a conductor vire 7o with the positive pole of a battery or dynamo, the end of the wire being attached to abinding-post 7c', which is secured by solder or otherwise to the limb of the strip.

A copper disk L constituting a cathode connection, as hereinafter appears, is placed in 011e of the channels H, and its post is connected by a wire l' with the negative pole of the dynamo.

O is a vertical overfiow-pipe extending through the bottom of the box into one ofthe channels, preferably H5, the last of the series, its inner end proj eeting a certain height above the bottom.

P is an outlet-pipe provided with a stopcoek 1) and communicating with the bottom of the main trough B.

Q is an outlet-pipe, having a stop-cock, which may be used, if desired, to draw off the cyanide solution.

I shall now proceed to describe the mode of using the described apparatus in carrying out certain improvements (which I have made, but do not herein claim) in the cyanide process of recovering gold, &c.

A quantity of mercury M is placed within the box A to the depth of, say, one-half of an inch, more or less, above the top of the middle trough B, as seen more clearly in the transverse section, Fig. b. The bottom of the box will thus be covered with the mercury, and the lower edges of the vessel D will extend below the surface of the latter.

The bracket G, carrying the lead strip J, is let into vessel D, and is then adjusted, so that the under side of the bottom of the strip will be about one-eighth of an inch, more or less, above and parallel with the surface of the mercury.

The tailings or finely-crushed ore having been leached with a solution of cyanide of potassium, the resulting gold cyanide solution is conducted or poured into the box A, say into channel Il, and courses through, as hereinafter described. Meanwhile a hot saturated solution of carbonate of soda or potassium is conducted into the vessel D, and in order to maintain the supply of the alkali a lump or lumps of the same are placed in a bag R, which is supported within said vessel, as in dieated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The cyanide solution is maintained at a suitable level by means of the outlet or overflow pipe inthe last channel Ht". The solution, which is first entered into channel H, courses in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. lthat is, from channel H by way of the opening e3 into II', thence by way of the respective openings e4 and e5 into H2, H3, H4, and H5, successively. A steady electrical current of low voltage and high amperage is passed through the solutions by way of wires k and Z', connecting with a dynamo (not shown) and the leadstrip and copper disk, respectively.

The following action takes place: The sodium contained lin the carbonate solution, coming into contact with the mercury, forms an amal gum with the latter, and the gold contained in the cyanide solution takes the place of the sodium and amalgamates with the mercury, the resulting gold amalgam falling to the bottom. The soduim amalgam is spread over the entire surface of the mercury and mingled therewith by agitation, thus facilitating and hastening the formation of the gold amalgam. This agitation and mingling are accomplished by taking hold of the yoke n3 and reciprocating the same, whereby the vessel D, with its contents, is shifted back and forth, the pinions of the supporting-bracket Gr ruiming upon the racks n2 at the side of the box. At the same time a portion of the gold amalgam is deposited upon the strips of copper I.

I remark that, although preferred, the copper strips need not be located in the grooves, and they may be placed in any desired position, or a large part of the bottom of the box may be covered with a detachable sheet or sheets of copper.

At suitable intervals a cleaning-up is made in the following manner: The gold amalgam, which is comparatively heavy and so sinks to the bottom of the trough B, is scraped out from the latter by way of the exit-pipe P, the vessel D and adjuncts being first removed. The amalgam deposited in the bottom of the lateral troughs b may be scooped out, the partitions j E2 being first removed. The copper strips are also taken out, and the gold amalgam found deposited thereon is recovered. The gold is finally separated from the am. lgam in the usual well-known manner, not necessary to describe. Before starting to clean up the carbonate of soda solution within vessel D may be siphoned or run off, so as to avoid unnecessary waste. By having two or more sets of the apparatus the operations may be made practically continuous.

It will be seen that various parts constituting the apparatus may be readily taken apart and removed from the box A, when desired, for repairs or replacing and when the cleaning up is to be made.

My invention may be constructed in a variety of forms without departing from the essential features or principles thereof.

\Vhile it is essential that the open vessel in which the anode strip is suspended shall. be so arranged that its lower end shall be in su eh proximity to the bottom of the box as to come beneath the surface of the mercury and thereby insure the retention of the lighter solution in the said vessel, and that the latter shall be horizontally movable with relation to the mercury-containing box, (or the box with rclation to the vessel,) the trough or troughs may be dispensed with, although useful as forming a pocket or receptacle for the comparatively heavy gol d amalgam that is form ed IOO IIO

in the process, which amalgam may thus be readily removed without material loss of mercury.

I remark, further, that iron or other suitable anode may be substituted in lieu of -lead for the strip J. The copper disk may also be dispensed with. It is, however, of course essential that there be some equivalent cathode connection within the box A, whereby the mercury placed within said box may be connected with the negative pole of the dynamo or battery.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by- Letters Patentl. In an apparatus for extracting gold, &c. the combination of the mercury-receiving box, the horizontally movable vessel therein, having its lower end open and unobstructed whereby mercury placed within the box may, in seeking its level, freely enter the'said vessel, the anode-strip suspended within the latter, the cathode connection and the conductor wires respectively adapted to connect the anode and cathode with a suitable battery or dynamo, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In apparatus for extracting gold, &c., the combination of the mercury receiving box, the longitudinal trough in the bottom thereof,

the open vessel over said trough adapted to be horizontally reciprocated, the anode strip suspended Within said vessel in proximity to the top of the trough the copper disk, within said box in the space outside of the vessel, and the respective conductor wires adapted to connect said strip and disk with a suitable dynamo or battery, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for extracting gold, &c. the/ combination of the mercury-receiving box, the horizontally movable vessel therein, having its lower end open and unobstructed whereby mercury placed within the box may, in seeking its level, enter said vessel, the horizontally placed anode strip suspended within the latter, means for adjusting the strip vertically, the cathode connection and the conductor wires adapted to connect the anodeand cathode with a suitable dynamo or battery, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus for extracting gold, &c. the combination of the mercury-receiving box, the horizontally-movable vessel therein, having its lower end open and unobstructed whereby mercury placedwithin the box may, in seeking its level, freely enter said vessel, the anode strip suspended within the latter, its supporting bracket and the cathode connection; said anode and cathode being adapted to be connected with a suitable battery or y dynamo, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus for extracting. gold, &c. the combination of the mercury-receiving box, the vessel therein, having its lower end open, as and for the purpose hereinbefore stated and adapted to be moved horizontally, the anode strip suspended within said vessel, the cathode connection and the several partitions dividing the space within the box outside of the vessel into successively communicating channels, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In apparatus for extracting gold, &c., the combination of the mercury-receiving box, the longitudinal trough in the bottom thereof, the open vessel supported over said trough and having its lower end in proximity to the top thereof, the cathode connection, the anode strip within said vessel, the supporting bracket, means for vertically adjusting said bracket, and means for reciprocating said vessel transversely, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus for extracting gold, &c. the combination of the mercury-receiving box, the vessel therein, having its lower end open, as and for the purpose specified, the anode strip suspended within the vessel, and the copper disk, in said box, within the space outside the said vessel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In an apparatus for extracting gold, ac. the combination of the mercury-receiving box, the vessel therein, having its lower end open, as and for the purpose specified, the anode strip suspended within said vessel, the cathode connection, and the detachable strips of copper in the bottom of said box, substantially as and for the purpose described.

IOO

9. In an apparatus for extracting gold, ne.,

the combination of the mercury-receiving box, the trough in the bottom thereof, the horizontally removable vessel suspended above said trough having its lower end in proximity thereto, the cathode connection, the anode strip within said vessel, the outlet, I), from said trough, and the overflow pipe, O, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED L. ELTONIIEAD.

I/Vitnesses JOHN R. NoLAN, MAX KEHR.

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